should be limited out certayne orders kindes of life functions and besides that sundry duties should of sundry meÌ„ according to their seuerall natures qualities be perfourmed and accomplished yet it can not be denyed but that there are some things also found coÌ„mon indifferent to all without exception As in meÌ„s bodies we sée alwaies great difference in their stature lineamentes voyce countenance but greater in theyr gestures motioÌ„s which expresse the affectioÌ„s of their mindes so likewise in those large and ample bodyes of ciuile societie wonderfull diuersities doe euery where appeare whilest namely some duties are executed by Kings Princes Iudges othersome by Lawyers Phisitions Souldiours Merchant men Artificers yea in a small house or familie some by the husband and the wife some other by the sonnes and daughters othersome finally by the seruants and handmaydes But agayne like as in this poynte all men and women are very like and egal that they consist of soule and body and are partakers of one and the selfesame substance and are all subiecte to the common lawe of being borne into the world and departing out in which behalfe verily none is saide to be aboue other nor none inferioure vnto other euen so must thou néedes graunte whether thou wilt or no that there are no small number of actions to the accomplishing whereof partly for the reteyning of the dignitie of the minde partly for the conseruation of the body all men mortall are bounde For if we haue regard to the body it selfe truly whether wée meane to speake of the most rich King Croesus or if the most vile begger Irus or of any other that by reason of outward respectes do very farre differ betwéene themselues we must néedes confesse that all of them oughte héere vnto to apply their diligence and indifferently to ioyne in this namely that they betwéene whiles refresh their bodies with meate and drinke that they take their swéete sléepe and rest being wéerie that they preserue and maynteyne their health that they recouer it when it is lost that they séeke to nourish it when it is recouered that they couer and defend their bodies with apparell c. There is no néede why we should procéede any further in this reckning In like maner if we consider the minde no man whether he be of the highest degrée of honour or of meane worship or of the lowest and basest estate of all can be vtterly voyde of all knowledge of God no man can bée ignorante of the will and Commaundementes of God according wherevnto we discerne good things from euill and are moued to follow the one and eschue the other no man can auoyde but that he must néedes yéelde obedience vnto GOD as vnto him that is most high most mightie most excellent and most iust But séeing that whatsoeuer things be of this kind are most plentifully declared in the Bookes of the Prophetes and Apostles and that we speake all this while to Christians which doe highly reuerence and embrace these Bookes wée worthelie conclude that it is the dutie of all Christians both to reade and heare the said Bookes and to gather out of them the knowlege of GOD and his most holy misteries This studie and this diligence euery one oweth vnto his owne soule for the dignitie health and saluation whereof we ought to leaue nothing vnassayed nothing vnattempted Looke how déere thyne owne Soule is vnto thée and so farre shouldest thou be off from foreslowing the studie and practise of Gods holy word But as touching the duties which for the dignitie of their minds are common indiffereÌ„tly to all Christians we shall haue occasion agayne anon after to speake Now we will shew that to the end euery man may according to his calling and kind of life duly execute those manyfolde and seuerall offices whyche are alotted vnto him it is good yea very necessarie before he beginne or attempt any action which at leastwise may become vprighte and acceptable to God to heare the counsell and iudgement of the holy Scriptures and in all things to follow and be aduised by the same For in very déede neyther king nor Prince nor Iudge nor any other man else whatsoeuer can possibly performe to any purpose the things that belong to his office and calling vnlesse he firste shall haue learned as well as the Minister of the Churche the manner and forme of good actions out of the Propheticall and Apostolike writings As touching whiche poynt least any manne shoulde doubte we will not sticke of diuers degrées of men to set downe so much in effect as to this presente businesse shall séeme expedient Wherfore if thou be a King or Prince verily there is so much the more cause why thou shouldest continually and attentiuely reade the holy Scripture For it is thyne office to gouerne and preserue Common Weales to make iust and vpright lawes to defend the innocent to punishe malefactors But howe and after what sort these things shouâ—d rightly and according to Gods holy ordinance be done and accomplished it is most certaynely to be learned out of the sacred Scriptures And for the same cause did GOD commaunde Kings and Princes by name studiously to reade the holy Bookes in giuing forthe a statute as touching thys matter Deut. 17. When the King sitteth sayth he on the seate of his kingdome he shall lay before him a patterne of the Booke of this Law in the sight of the Priests and Leuites and it shal remaine with him and he ought to reade in it al the dayes of his life namely that he may learne to feare the Lord his GOD and to obserue all the wordes of this Lawe and these Statutes to do them In which place more matter touching the office of a King both goeth before and followeth after I omitte to tell that in the 1. Samuel Chapter 8.12 and 1. king 5.8.10 2. king 22. 2. Chron. 1.9 Prouerbs 20.21.25.29.31 Eccles 10. Psalme 20.101 Ieremy 22. and in other infinite places mo many things bée declared whyche are most néedefull to be knowen and obserued of all Kings and Princes if at leastwise they couet to obteyne anye place in the Kingdome and Court of the most mightie King IESVS CHRIST if they will from their heart testifye and declare that they according to the counsell of the most holy King and Prophet Dauid Psalm 2. doe in dede kisse and adore the Sonne sent of GOD the Father into the earthe to whome the Father hathe gyuen the Gentiles for an inheritance and all the coastes of the earth for a possession and therewithall also power and authoritie to destroy all the wicked and vngodly from the face of the earth Againe further both all the Courtiers and all the whole nobilitie must indeuour to frame and conforme themselues after the example of the King must wyth a certayne holy kind of ambitioÌ„ striue among theÌ„selus to the intent that by reading learning the Diuine philosophie and true Christianitie
being once taken awaye it cannot be chosen but that infinite daungers must straight and immediately follow after Nowe therefore if we cannot be contente to haue oure Churches reformed and rightlye ordered if we couet to haue our scholes brought into a good frame if we wishe with our heartes to sée all the partes of oure Common weale to florish and recouer their former beautie if wée â—ong vnfeynedly to haue those kings and peoples reconâ—led and vnite vnto vs that are hitherto seuered from 〈◊〉 in the cause of Religion if wée desire to haue a certaine happy worlde so farre forth I meane as appertayneth to the aboundance of spirituall benefites such a one perhaps as happened for a whyle vnder Salomon Iosias Ezechias Ezra c. then the presentest helpe and furtherance to the performaunce of all these things wil be euen this namely if we apply our studies and cares to the continual reading and searching of the holy Scriptures And we sée verily God be thaÌ„ked pleÌ„tiful matter and manifold furniture euery where prouided prepared for this purpose there want not helpes sundry commodities again there are set vp in al places pillers beacons to shew vs the right way wherin if we haue lust to walke we shall not hardly come to the wished marke The volumes of the holy Scriptures are none otherwise than they were in tymes paste vnder kyng Iosias 2. King. 22. or vnder Duke Ezra Nehemias 8. deliuered agayne out of the dungion of darkenesse yea and GOD thrusteth and driueth forthe into all places notable teachers whyche doe faithfully and sincerely interprete his word the brightnesse whereof so farre forth nowe euerye where shyneth and glistereth that no mortall creature can bring for excuse that hée hath not séene at the least some sparkes or beames therof Where these therefore and suche like foundations are once layde where aydes and helpes of moe sortes than one doe voluntarily offer themselues what cause is there why we shoulde not make accounte of far better things Certaine it is that if we being at any time to deale in this matter with good agréement of minds and with oure forces and strengthes ioyned togither GOD also for his parte will ayde and assiste vs more than we can aske or desire But beholde whilst we suppose our discourse to haue some weight in it and are in good hope to accomplishe something to GODS glory sodenly and at aduenture certaine as they séeme pleasaunt and mery conceyted felowes come me forth and not without floutes and scoffes laugh vs to scorne and clappe their handes at vs yea and with one only reason as with the pushe of a moste forceable Ram or rather as with the vndermyning of a trenche in the grounde take vppon them to throwe downe and subuert whatsoeuer hath of vs hytherto bene buylded vp Out vpon thée saye they wyth thy Bybles Thinkest thou that all are called to be diuines As for vs we are neither prelates nor Bishops we are neyther pastours Priests nor Deacons and to saye the truth neyther is it néedefull nor yet possible that all shoulde be suche what dost thou tel vs therfore of these things which are lay men To those that haue vowed themselues to the seruice of the Churche sing thou this song vnto whom we graunte that this burthen doth belong namely that they shoulde perpetually be occupyed about inward and spirituall affayres but as for our partes it is requisite for manye causes that we shoulde be conuersaunte in ciuill and outward businesses neyther in very déede can we otherwise choose For why one man is a King another a Prince some other a noble man or a Courtier againe this man is Iudge a Consull a Pretor a Souldior that man a Lawyer a Phisition and finally some it behoueth to be Marchauntes Artificers Husbandmen c. and wouldest thou haue all these kindes of menne to stande as it were bounde to the holy Scriptures No manne is ignorante but like as it is necessary among Christians that a diuersitie of states shoulde be had so also that dyuers and sundry dueties and actions do belong vnto euery one And of a greate number so many and troublesome are the trades and kinds of dealing that they requyre the whole man to the discharging of them No man knoweth not that those haue néede of greate forecaste counsell aduice industrie painestakyng and muche tyme that doe dayly applye themselues to the practises of Peace and Warre to Marchaundize to Handicraftes and suche like and that doe therewithal continually sustaine bothe themselues and their families Wherefore to goe about as ye woulde saye by a common decrée made so driue all the Laitie to the reading and ensearching of the holye Scriptures séemeth to be a thyng very absurde and inconuenient Yea rather necessitie it selfe requyreth that all of them shoulde be holden excused But as this excuse is knowne to be frequent and common so wyll I bring to passe that euerye man shall perceiue it to be as weake and vayne As often as exhortations are made vnto vertuous dealying and vnto all manner of good actions of life and conuersation this truely is the firste crinke and starting hole that the greatest part of men are accustomed to seeke But Chrisost in his homily 21 vpon Genes sheweth not in very manny words in déede yet suche as are graue and waightye that all lettes and impedimentes whatsoeuer are of them pretended in vayne that do not with their good willes performe any thing belonging to their duetyes For wher as the Scriptured Genesis 5. and 6. reporteth that Enoch and Noe beyng verye olde begate sonnes and daughters and yet notwithstanding worshipped GOD aright and were accepted of GOD he in good time addeth as followeth Let vs pretende neyther the gouernment of house neyther the charge of wife and children nor yet any other thyng beside as matters sufficient to excuse oure negligente and slouthfull lyfe Neyther let vs alleadge those colde wordes and saye I am a worldlyng and haue a wyfe and charge of chyldren as manye are wonte to saye if at any tyme wee exhorte them to take vppon them some vertuous labours or to apply theÌ„selues to the reading of the holy Scriptures Thys is no parte of my charge saiste thou What haue I forsaken the worlde Am I become a Monke What sayste thou O man Is it the duetie alonely of Monkes to please GOD GOD woulde haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the Trueth and that Vertue shoulde be neglected of no man For heare howe hee speaketh by the Prophete I will not the death of a sinner but that hee should be conuerted and liue Was it a lette or hinderaunce I pray you to thys iuste man he speaketh of Noe to haue the company of a wife or the charge of chyldren I beseeche you therfore that wee deceiue not our selues but by how much the more we are entangled in these cares by so much the more let vs
as well of all olde as newe sprung vp heresies from amongest them and laste of al so to ioyne and knit them togyther in one consent of the truth of his holy word and Sacraments as may be moste of all to the aduancement of his glorious kingdome and to the vtter ouerthrowe of Sathans outrage and Tyranny To the furtherance wherof bicause I was perswaded that this Booke of the famous and worthy man Andrew Hyperius woulde not a little auaile I thought it not amisse for my good brethren and Countrimens cause to turne the same into oure common language and to publish it in as plaine a stile and phrase as I possibly coulde Whyche being attentiuely read and pervsed wil minister I am sure not onely sufficient matter for the godly and Christian Reader to work vpon but also sounde and substantiall reasons to the satisfaction of al indifferent mindes and to the confusion of all scorners and cauillers whatsoeuer And forsomuche as I am not ignorant what great and speciall blessings of hys Spirite the Lord in mercy hath vouchsafed to bestowe vppon youre Ladiship and vpon your progenie whereby you are moued againe by apparant testimonies to expresse the godly loue and zeale whiche you beare to his infallible truth and Gospell I determined with my selfe amongst many other noble and worthy personages to make my speciall choice of youre L. as a meete patronesse of thys present worke and of my trauel and paines taken therein Wherevnto I was prouoked so muche the rather by cause that as you youre selfe are an earnest traueller in the holy Scriptures as well by publike hearing as by priuate reading so your example wil not a little help both to the coÌ„mending of this worke vnto posteritie also to the incouraging of many other of youre sexe and calling to the following of your steppes Albeit I must confesse one other cause there was of this my doing which I wil by no meanes conceale from your L. And that was the greate curtesie and friendly affabilitie which amongst many other vertues I noted in youre L. at what time you vsed commonly to resorte vnto oure parishe Churche to the exercise there But then especially appeared your curtesie most excellent in mine eie when you of your owne accorde to my great and singular rrioycing vouchedsafe to visite and adorne my poore house with your preseÌ„ce and to take wel in worth that simple entertainement whiche then throughe Gods goodnesse I was able to giue you And euen then doubtlesse conceiued I this imagination with my selfe that how soeuer you should be forgetfull of your friendlinesse offered yet I for my part could neuer be vnmindefull of your curtesy receyued but woulde testifye the same by one meanes or other so soone as time and oportunitie shoulde serue Thus Madam haue you hearde the principall causes that moued mee to putte forth this Booke vnder the title of youre name whiche if I may perceiue your L. to take in good parte as I doubte not but you will then haue I reaped the onely guerdon of my desire In the meane season to ende withal I commende the whole successe therof vnto the Lorde beseeching him so to multiply his mercies vpon you and vpon your whole familie as that you may liue many yeares a ioyfull and happy mother in Israel and finally reape the ende of youre hope euen endlesse ioy and immortalitie with all the sanctified in Christe Iesu AMEN Written at VVethersfeld the ninth of Iune 1579. Your Ladiships most humble in the Lord IOHN LVDHAM To the Reader I If toyes and trifles nowe adayes so wel accepted bee O Of all and euery wight in worth that doe them reade or see H How much more theÌ„ ought godly works wel weyed for to bin N No doubt the Lord wil none excuse that carelesse be herein L Let whose can coÌ„plaine and say I want good Bookes to view V Vndoubtedly this age of ours wil proue his plainte vntrew D Did euer any one as yet like store of bookes remember H Hath not the Lord vs greatly blest in these our days CoÌ„sider A AmoÌ„gst the rest this booke is one which if thou rightly read M May further thee to godlinesse and stand thee in greate stead I. L. Gentle Reader before thou enter into the reading of this discourse I pray thee vse some paines in correcting with thy pen these faults that haue escaped the Print In the Preface page 3. line 11. reade of the Psalmist page 5. line 28. 29. reade they are they that page 7. line 2. reade holy Scriptures ibid. line 3. reade any nevve matter page 8. line 3. reade and it shall In the Treatise page 6. line to reade as the insight page 7. last line read to the contemplation page 8. line 8. for Clemens Alexandrnus reade Clemens Alexandrinus ibid. line 11. for vvas reade vvere page 10. line 24. for our reade one ibid. line 29. for Ieremie reade Ierome page 14. line 25. read and function page 19. line 8. reade vacation page 20. line 29. reade same page 21. line 28. reade that euerye man page 26. line 11. for vnhearde of reade vnheard of ibid. line 15. reade in a readinesse page 29. line 31. reade at Thessalonica page 36. line 1. reade numbred page 38.10 reade moe vvitnesses page 40. line 12. reade in their ovvne houses page 54. line 22. for vvhere reade vvhich page 56. lin 8. reade Paulinus page 58. lin 26. reade Hedibia page 64. after the laste vvorde bring in these lines folovving vz. as touchyng the palme of knovvledge of things spirituall For verily I am oâ—t at minde that then there vvas no familie c. page 65. line 19. reade admonished page 66. line 7. reade buying ibid. line 26. reade Ichoiacim page 70. line 2. reade meanely page 74. line 7. reade he oftentimes ibidem line 10. reade Acts. 18. of Aquila page 75. line 23. reade as this page 77. line 17. reade to set forvvarde page 78 line 6. reade of the vvholsome ibid. line 25. reade booke 10. page 79. line 14. reade desolate Mergine line 4. for ought reade might page 18. line 18. reade oughte not to page 84. line 14. reade vnited page 85 line 9. reade begin page 86. line 5. reade a Iudge page 88. line 25. reade all their page 96. line 24. leaue out the tvvo commas at amplifications and at threatnings page 97. line 34 reade deriued page 98. line 14. leaue out good page 108 line 2. omit of ibid. line 28. reade distinguished page 111. line 16 for if reade of page 114. line 22. reade he hid page 120. line 13. reade vvhiche being c. page 129 line 4. reade comprehend page 134. line 20 for reading reade namely readers of c. page 135. line 17. for here reade hearde ibid. line 26. reade veritie page 149. for Tullius reade Tullies page 159. line 21. reade invvrapped page 160. line 30. for come reade runne page 161 line 6. reade propounded line 14. reade forbrorne
page 163. line 9. omit out page 166. line 1. for excused reade exercised page 167. line 23. for come reade came page 172. line 25. for all bookes reade al the bookes page 215. line 9. for stammered reade staggered page 218. line 22 for all the people vvhen reade all the people vvepte vvhen c. page 223. line 25. for all them reade and all of them page 177. line 22. for conuently reade conueniently FINIS To the most noble and renoumed Prince Lewis Duke of Bauier Countie Palatine of the Rhine c. his most gracious Lord Andrew Hyperius sendeth greeting THis is a common guise and practise among Christian Kings and Princes most noble Prince that in publishing and proclayming their Edictes and other monumentes of writing in theyr Coynes which by their Mintmen they cause to be coyned and now and then also in their buildings vpon statues or images curiously carued in theyr paynted tables againe on their clothes of estate on their gorgeous hangings of Tapistrie on their purple robes on their Couerlets of Arras and suche like precious ornamentes when they put to their name and function they discretely adde something whereby they professe themselues to haue obteyned THROVGH THE GRACE OF GOD all the honoures and dignities that are befalne them which custome commonly and euerye where receyued can neuer sufficiently be praysed and extolled for it putteth them in minde of most graue and weightie matters and such as ought alwayes worthily to be before their eyes First it teacheth them to confesse and acknowledge that kingdomes and common weales are at GODS disposition that they are most wisely gouerned by his prouidence and that one whyle forsooth they flourishe for the Godlies sake and another while are subuerted bycause of the wicked as testifye Iob Chap. 34. and Salomon Prouerb 28.29 and finally that wonderfull alterations far beyond all mens expectation witnessing Daniell Chap. 2. are brought to passe in them Secondly they are giuen to vnderstand that it is their partes and duties to ascribe all their honoures power and happinesse whatsoeuer beâ—ideth them on earth only and alone to GOD and to render thanks vnto him continually for the same in as much as of Dauid a most diligeÌ„t ponderer of GODS iudgemeÌ„ts they may all learne that it is GOD alone and none other that giueth happie successe and safetie vnto Kings Psalm 144. with whome his sonne Salomon in all poynts agreing pronounceth that he only by the benefite of GOD was installed in the soueraigne state of his kingly dignitie 2. Chronic. 1. And in the same place where the same Salomon craueth wisedome to be giuen him GOD hymselfe maketh answere That he would not only giue him wisedome whiche is a thing very necessary to a happye gouernemeÌ„t but also that he would franckly and bountifully adorne him with riches power glory and magnificence Moreouer it is méete and conueniente that they acknowledge GOD to be a most mightye Emperoure and Monarch in whose power and dominion it is to punish with horrible paines or euen vtterly to destroy and that iustly all those that refuse to submitte themselues and to do his commandements And for this cause it is that the said kingly Prophet Dauid sang Be wise nowe therefore yee Kings be learned ye Iudges of the earthe serue the Lord in feare reioyce in him with trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angrie and yee perishe in the way if his wrath be kindled but eueÌ„ a little To be short so many Kings and Princes as doe aduisedly consider that they BY THE GRACE OF GOD haue obteyned the highest degrée of honour should for many causes endeuoure themselues with all their power and inforcement to become as like vnto GOD as is possible imitating so farre forthe as they may his goodnesse iustice clemencie in al points It is most truly said of a certaine wise man That a Prince is the image of GOD that gouerneth all things Though euen this also ought not a little to moue them that in the holy Scriptures they are not seldome times called GODS Exod. 22. Psalme 82. Now héere vpon further it followeth that all Kings and Princes especially so manye as doe beare the worlde in hand that they knowe CHRIST by whome grace and truth is broughte downe to vs from Heauen and that they embrace and kisse hym from their hearts that I may vse the worde of Psalmist ought diligently with all dutifulnesse to perfourme and set forwarde all those things that tend to the aduancement of the glory of our true euerlasting GOD on earth who alone is the most mightie King of all Kings Lord of all Lords Apoc. 19. For héere vnto doth the diuine crier inuite all that are in authoritie Psal. 29. saying Giue vnto the Lord yee sonnes of the mightie giue vnto the Lorde glory and strength And surely if Kings and Princes would by any meanes go about to amplifie GODS glory they caÌ„not do it any better way than if they cause as many people as maye be to be brought to the knowledge and sincere worshipping of GOD the Father of hys son IESVS CHRIST For why GOD accompteth this to be hys greatest prayse and glory whiche also he challengeth to himselfe alone and will neuer yéelde it to anye other that all men shoulde haue the knowledge of hys power goodnesse righteousnesse that they shoulde receyue hys commaundementes worshippe and call vppon hym wyth their whole heart and finallie from hym looke for all good things and euen euerlasting saluation As touching which thing Moses Prince of al Prophets Deut. 10. saith And now ô Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes and to loue him and to serue the Lorde thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule And Esay 43. God himselfe sayeth Euery one shall be called by my name for I haue created him for my glory Again in the same place This people haue I formed for my selfe they shall shewe foorth my prayse And Chap. 48. For mine owne sake for mine owne sake will I do it rather than my name shoulde be polluted neyther wyll I giue my glory to another By no small number of suche sentences GOD declareth that he then excelleth in sound perfite glory when as of good meÌ„ he is honoured praysed worshipped but to what end is it to make any loÌ„ger rehearsall Howbeit least anye man should doubte that the chiefe happinesse consisteth in the true knowledge seruice of GOD and that therby men atteine vnto that place where with the blessed Saincts they shall enioy euerlasting felicitie Let vs hearken vnto GOD himselfe Ieremy declaring in this sort Let not the wise man saith he glory in his wisdome nor the strong man glory in his strength neyther the rich man glory in his riches but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lord which
shew mercy iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth and in these things I delight saith the lord And as touching the knowledge of his sonne the same God Esay 53. sayeth By hys knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many and he shall beare their iniquitie But all this matter our sauiour CHRIST dispatcheth very roundly where he speketh to his father in these words Iohn 17. This is eternal life that they know thee to be the onely true GOD and whome thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST But now remaineth this thing to be discussed will some man say to witte from whence we haue to fette the knowledge of GOD the Father and of his sonne CHRIST and from whence we may readily learne how GOD will be worshipped of vs This matter is easily answered and determyned And soothly it is best for vs in thys behalfe to heare men inspired with the spirite of GOD rather than any other else whatsoeuer Therefore the authour of the 19. Psalme would haue vs to flee to the very law and testimonie vttered by GOD himselfe The Lawe of the Lord sayth he is vndefiled conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lorde is sure and giueth wisedome to the simple The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the hearte the commaundement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean and endureth for euer the iudgements of the Lorde are true and righteous altogither More to be desired are they than golde yea than muche fine gold sweeter also than hony and the hony combe Moreouer by them is thy seruaunt taught and in keeping of them there is great rewarde Many things spoken to this effect in the 119. Psalme I purposelye passe ouer In Esay Chap. 8. Whosoeuer by GODS disposition do offer themselues vnto CHRIST to be taught as being desirous to learne the trueth are commaunded to resort for councel to the lawe and to the testimony And he whose integritie is renoumed in the Sermons of the Prophets Apostles I meane Abraham the common father of all the faythfull Luke 16. to those that are carefull to prouide and foresée least they fall into endlesse paines and torments giueth in charge that they heare attentiuely Moses and the Prophetes Last of all CHRIST speaketh expreselye Iohn 5. saying Searche the Scriptures for they are that testify of mee Then the matter is brought to this pointe that so many Kings and Princes as are desirous to rouze vp men to the purchasing of the knowledge of the true and euerlyuing GOD and of hys sonne IESVS CHRIST and to bring them home to a sounde and sincere religion haue néede especiallye for manye greate causes and considerations to become authours themselues vnto all their subiectes and euen to as manye as they maye that they and euery of them to the vttermost of their power maye applye their diligence continuallye to the reading hearing examining and meditating of the holy Scriptures Other waye than this wherein a man might walke safely as in respecte of knowing the true GOD and of puchasing saluation without feare of erroure or anye other daunger can none be shewed And vndoubtedly this businesse is in it self of such great excellencie dignitie that it is a thing well worthy wherof Christian Kings and Princes shoulde by a speciall regarde make decrées in their publike edictes and actes of Parliament Neyther in verye déede are they ignoraunt how it is the moste sage and sacred commaundemente of GOD himselfe that so manye as are desirous to bée enrolled and registred in the blessed Common weale and Citie of GOD shoulde continuallye exercise themselues in learning and meditating the lawe of GOD that is to saye the holy Scripture These words whiche I coÌ„maund thee this day sayth GOD alwayes our most noble Emperoure Deutronomie 6. shall be in thyne hearte and thou shalte rehearse them continually to thy children and shalte talke of them when thou tariest in thy house and when thou walkest by the waye when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp Which decrée we finde to be repeated in the 11. Chapter of the same Booke that euen hereby it may be apparant that it is a matter very earnestly vrged of god Wherfore if Christian Magistrates doe at any tyme make lawes for theyr people wherein they shall no lesse seuerelye than grauelye commaunde that all and euerye householder and gouernours of familyes shall daylye in theyr seuerall houses ordinarilye reade heare and examine from tyme to tyme certaine Chapters of the holye new Scriptures they can not bée sayd to attempt anye matter or straunge from theyr office and callyng but with all faythfull diligence to propounde commende and putte in execution the moste aunâ—â—ent ordinaunce and decrée euen of GOD hymselfe by whose grace and fauoure they so ofte confesse themselues to be aduaunced to theyr hyghe and moste honourable estate And in good sooth if Magistrats woulde duely consider with themselues by howe solemne an othe and for howe manye causes they are bounde and beholden vnto GOD againe if they woulde call to minde howe néedefull a thyng it were especiallye in these dayes for all menne to bée trayned vppe in the doctrine of true Religion and besydes howe manyfolde commodities myghte by this moste holesome enterprise redounde vnto all estates they coulde by no meanes abyde to be counted slacke or negligente in thys behalfe But rather they woulde wyth all godlye care and so long time putte foorth Lawes touching the reading and meditation of the Scriptures vntyll they shoulde sée menne to bée more in loue with Diuine matters than nowe they are to profitte somewhat like in the Doctrine of Fayth and Christianitie and to amende their manners whyche we sée nowe euerye where oh vnhappye age of ours to be ouermuche corrupted and plainely abhominable And questionlesse it becommeth Magistrates wyth greate courage and constancye to goe forwards in thys office for so muche as they vnderstande that it is euen by name enioyned vnto them also of GOD that they shoulde continuallye be occupyed in readyng the sacréed Bookes For thus doeth GOD the supreme lawgiuer Deutronomie 17. say vnto them When the king shall sitte vpon the throne of his kingdome then shall he write him a copie of this Lawe in a booke by the Priestes of the Leuites and ye shal be with him and hee shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that he maye learne to feare the Lorde his GOD and to keepe al the wordes of this Lawe and these ordinaunces for to doe them That his hearte bee not lifted vp aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundemente to the right hande or to the lefte but that hee maye prolong his dayes in his kingdome hee and hys sonnes in the middest of Israell They then are more grosely deceiued thaÌ„ that they shal néed with any long processe to be confuted whosoeuer they be that imagine this commaundement to belong in no wise vnto Christian Magistrates
eueÌ„ to those that were ouercome than if we shoulde perpetuallye striue with them by the doubtefull dint of sword It falleth not out alwayes well on our sides when wée indeauor to driue away force perforce craft with craft and as it is sayde in the prouerbe one nayle with another It behoueth a wise man first to trye all things before hée fall to they hazard of battel But especially when the case concerneth the affayres of religion or the saluation of soules then of necessitie must swordes giue place to doctrine rage to reason crueltie to humanity warres to peace In the Counsell holden at Vienna a Citie of Gallia Narbonensis in the yeare 1310. it was ordeyned that in al the noblest vniuersities of Europe thâ—re should be maintained professors of the Arabicke tong whyche tongue it is certaine that the Turkes doe vse in their Ceremonies and this cannot I construe to be done for anye other cause or consideration than that our Countreymen mighte be prouided and enstructed aforehande to common and treate at one time or other with the Turkes especially in the cause of religion But it belongeth not to this place to search ouer busily how the Turkes being the sworne enimies of our religion maye be reduced to a better minde and conioyned with vs in rites and doctrine It shal be good rather to speake vnto those that do proudely challendge to themselues the surname of Christians and yet in the meane time of nothing are lesse carefull all theyr life long than of the knowledge of CHRIST out of the holy Scriptures Gladly therefore woulde I learne of you what mindes ye would be off what aduice ye woulde take if at anye time being helde Captiue vnder the yoke of the Turkes yée should be driuen to such a straight as that ye should be suffred neyther to haue any bookes nor yet to heare any Christian preachers Truely I praye vnto GOD that hée woulde vouchsafe to withholde so great a mischiefe froÌ„ the neckes of all Christians neuerthelesse séeing there is none of vs all that oughte to stande in feare of the same or not muche vnlike misfortune distresse there is good cause why euery man should at the least in thoughte consider and deuise with himselfe what he woulde doe if at any time he were in that estate Thou therefore being driuen into miserable bondage and perchaÌ„ce fast fettered in yrons if thou shouldest heare dayly villanous opprobries vomited out against the sacred name of CHRIST if thou shouldest heare al the parts of our religion to be shamefullye intreated and misused wyth tauntes and mockes if sundry arguments should dayly be obiected to carry thée away from godly sinceritie if thou shouldest continually be commpelled to sée heare and doe those things that are altogither vnméete for Christians that is to say for Godly vertuous minds tell me I pray thée how and by what meanes wouldst thou then confirme and establishe thy hearte in Faith how any by what meanes wouldest thou be comforted in the middest of so many temptations that from thy childhode neuer learnedst anye thing at all out of the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles that mighte help thée therevnto I am sure and certayne whosoeuer will weigh and consider these things vprightely as is méete he shall be enforced to confesse that in very déede there is nothing more miserable than a Christian man oppressed and consumed in a manner wyth suche anguishes both of body and mind and all bycause he is vtterly destitute of all solace and coÌ„fort of GODS word For as muche therefore as it is very playne and euident that the diligence of Laie men in learning the holye Scriptures is verye requisite and necessarie as well to the conseruation of the succession of ministers in Churches as also most profitable and commodious to the adorning of Common Weales and to the amplifying or rather pacifying of Kingdomes and Empires Let all both Kings and Prelates not withoute good cause in a common Councell determine and declare that all Christians withoute exception of what estate or condition soeuer they be ought so long time to be instructed in the holy Scriptures as they maye atteyne at the least some indifferent knowledge of the articles of our Religion and become able after a sorte to declare the same vnto others And would to God that all good men and especially those that are in authoritie aboue the rest would sufficiently consider how necessarie it were for them oftentimes to consult and deliberate about this matter No man is ignorant how in certaine ages past Churches were possessed of vnlearned ideotes and of meÌ„ without all religion such for the most parte as haue lepped out of Kings and Bishops Courtes Pantries Buttries wrastling places banquetting houses nourceries by whose meanes the pure doctrine of the Gospell yea all the whole order of preaching hath bin vtterly banished out of holy assemblies neyther did they busie themselues about any thing else saue the stincking traditioÌ„s of men and a number of colde ceremonies whereof in some there was a great deale more superstition I had almost said sacrilege than was in times past in the fond obseruatioÌ„s of the Heathen And as for the Scholes theÌ„selues what should a maÌ„ haue found in them but vgly rudenesse holding the highest roome togither with vnsauery and yet subtill sophistrie Againe the Romaine Empire hath with shame ynough for the space of these 4. C. yeares bin thrust out of ioynt shakeÌ„ torne in sunder and the partly by the Turkes who taking occasioÌ„ by our sinnes haue purloined froÌ„ vs now these prouinces nowe those partly by Christian Princes themselues through whose vnquenchable discordes the sinewes of the Christian coÌ„mon weale haue bin cut asunder and the whole strength therof vtterly wasted and consumed to speake nothing in the meane time of a million of mischiefes broughte into Europe by the ambition pride of certain Bishops To be short such hath of loÌ„g time bin the state of things amoÌ„g Christians as we reade to haue bin amoÌ„g the Iewes when they were oppressed with the hard yoke of Ieroboam Achab Manasses the Kings of Babylon and such like for why ouer besides most cruell warres innumerable slaughters common calamities not to be named the sincere worship of the true GOD hath bin quite and cleane abolished superstitioÌ„s haue borne the greatest sway faithfull teachers haue bin flayne or thrust out of their places finally the very Bookes of holy Scripture themselues haue bin vtterly lost and rare in very déede was that man to be founde that thoughte anye better of Religion than did godlesse Diagoras For soothly so it is when it pleaseth GOD to punishe barbarous and faithlesse men he strippeth them starke naked as a man would saye and depriueth them of all power But when he determineth to punish his own those people whether they be of the Iewes or Gentiles he bereaueth them of the noble and pretious treasure of his worde whyche
them arighte do excell and surmount others in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures Further there maye at all times fall oute verye manye affayres that doe require no small reading and experience of the holye Scriptures How wouldest thou behaue thy selfe I pray thée if there shoulde at anye tyme anye false opinions eyther by Philosophers or by wise men of the worlde or by Heretikes beginne to bée scattered among the people Shall it not bée thy parte and duetie stoutely euen out of the Pulpet to confute them Thou hopest perhappes that all things are safe ynough where thou liuest and that thou néedest not greatelye to feare anye suche daunger But take héede thou bée not deceyued It is a wyse mannes parte euen in the tyme of peace to bée thynking of Warre But what if anye doubtes of Doctrine shoulde rise in a priuate man whome shoulde hée rather goe vnto than vnto thée hys Shephearde and teacher And howe wouldest thou asswage the tempestes lurking in hys mynde and cause hym to be caulme and quiet if thou couldest not mitigate all thinges with the prosperous winds and euen with the pleasant gales of the Scriptures Agayne what if the Magistrate himselfe should at any time reguire or command thée that thou wouldest in his presence and haply before an honourable assembly of Counsellers as it commeth to passe nowe and then louingly conferre or dispute wih some man fallen into a pernitious erroure Doubtlesse if in this case thou canst not shew thy selfe to be Didacticon that is to say apt to teache and be able to stoppe the mouthes of the gaynespeakers thou shalt by and by be confounded to thy greate shame and all will estéeme thée as a foole and ydeote To let passe in the meane time that thou by thy wante of knowledge priuily giuest occasion of thinking that he which was supposed to erre inasmuch as thou arte not able to confute him auoucheth nothing but the truth Whiche thing if it come to passe not onely he alone will perseuer in his opinion but the reste also will beginne to ioyne with him to subscribe and maynteyne the same Moreouer oft times the state of Churches dothe require that thou shouldest openly inueigh againste the sinnes that the people for the time are falne into And héere hast thou néede of héedefull rebukements of cunning amplifications of crimes of graue threatnings of punishmentes of sharpe exhortations to repentance and other furniture of like sort For it is to be feared if thou pourest forth nothing else but thine owne words and manassing spéeches that thou shalte not onely not bring them to amendment of life but also hardlye perswade them to accompt those things for vices whych are committed by wicked men Therefore to restreyne and reduce men to a better trade of life and conuersation it shall be requisite for thée to vse the fires hammers swordes of the Prophetes and Apostles as fitte and peculiar instrumentes for the same purpose The word of the Lord is sa a fire sayth God himself in Ieremie Chap 23. and like vnto a hammer that breaketh the hard rocke It is a Sworde Ephes 6. Yea it is of greater force to enter than any two edged Sword as witnesseth the authour of the Epistle to the Hebrues He therfore that hath no skill aptly to leue◠shake and throw these weapons of the worde of GOD from the Pulpet into mens hearts and minds in vayne shall he take vppon him to subdue and cut off the sinnes of the people Furthermore sometimes he that hath the ouersight of the Churche is inuited of learned men dwelling néere vnto him to talke and conferre sometymes also it falleth out that strangers comming farre off or Embassadours or other do visite him and craue some question to be declared of him or require his counsell and help in some matter perchance also they call him for honoures sake to dinner or supper to be short now and then learned men come togither for other causes mingling theyr communication with sober and holy talke as touching matters of Diuinitie whiche partly is applyed to the vnderstanding of the holye Scriptures partly to the stablishing of the wauering conscience Nowe if in these and such like méetings the Pastor of the Church shall carrie only the visor of a dumb personage or if he doe any thing shall only puffe for payne sweate waxe pale and be ashamed shall he not I praye thée discredite the whole order Ecclesiasticall And trulye looke howe commendable a thing it is for laie men handsomely and comely to reason of diuine matters so shamefull a thing is it for him that should be a teacher of the Church not to be able aptely to common of anye thing out of the Scriptures What shall we say to this moreouer that in many Churches the order is derided from the auntient institution as well of the Romayne as Constantinopolitan Church as witnesseth Cassiodorus in the 9. Booke and 35. Chap. of his Tripartite Historie although in verye déede more necessarie for those times than for oures in these dayes that so many as come to the holy Table of the Lord doe confesse and bewayle their sinnes to the Ministers of the Church and require comfort and absolution by the worde of god They that can not sufficiently trie and examine themselues according to the precept of the Apostle had néede to poure forth their secretes into the bosome of their Pastor to disclose theyr ignorance and so long to be instructed and taught till all doubtfulnesse and perturbation be rooted out of their conscience But what should the good Pastor do in this behalfe when of the good questions and demaunds propounded he can auouch nothing more certaynely than if they had neuer bin hearde of before Neyther doubtlesse are we in hande héere with flimflammes as they saye and matters of no value but euen with such as vppon whiche dependeth the eternall saluation or destruction of soules So far forthe for the most parte as pertayning to thys poynte lyeth it in thée that many eyther obteyne saluation or else vtterly perish whereof the one verily commeth to passe when thou arte able by the helpe of GODS worde to fortifye mens myndes the other when thou arte not able so to doe But go too to whome I pray you doth it more apperteyne to lift vp weake and féeble consciences to susteyne the sicke and oppressed for any manner of cause with holy comfortes and consolations than to the Minister of the Church who is counted as a common parent of mens mindes and as Sainct Iames séemeth to signifie a Phisition also whiche labouring to GOD in Prayer will indeuour to help in the time of néede And that consolations are proper and peculiar to the holye Scriptures it is sufficiently playne and euident by the testimonie of S. Paule to the Romaines 15. Commōly also for the most parte the whole multitude standeth in néede of comfortable Sermons to the intent it may persist
saith he more fonde than children that saye Blessed is euerye soule that is simple and hee that walketh in Simplicitie walketh in Faith. This truelye is the cause of all calamities that a great number can no skill to alleadge fitte testimonyes of Scripture for matters in question For the simple in that place is not to be taken for the Foole and for hym that knoweth nothing at all but for hym that is not euill for hym that is not craftye For if it shoulde so bee vnderstoode it hadde beene superfluous to saye Be yee wise as Serpentes and simple as Doues But nowe oughte euerye man very carefully to beware and take héede leaste he erre in anye wise in the Doctrine of Faith or be deceyued and beguiled of others The Angell of darkenesse oft times changeth himselfe into the likenesse of an Angell of lighte In these dayes are to be séene euery where greate swarmes of Hipocrites false teachers and enuious mē whiche doe breake into the Lords field by night and there sow darnell Againe there is no man priuie in his owne conscience that he is on euery side so confirmed in sound doctrine but that he may both be deceyued of others and also deceyue others yea and euen himselfe to Our firste Parentes Adam and Eue whome God had adorned as well with perfite righteousnesse as also with a most plentifull knowledge of all goodnesse and many other spirituall graces were notwithstanding beguiled of the subtil serpent and euen forthwith withoute any great striuing gaue consent to hys treacheries and illusions How and by what meanes therefore may we warrant our selues that we shall in no case be insnared or intangled when as we are both farre more weake than they and the old serpente dothe nowe no lesse craftily than in times past endeuoure by Heretikes and false teachers to intrap and circumuent vs He then may séeme rightly to be out of his wittes and euen to striue with reason it selfe whosoeuer feareth not ne standeth in doubte of suche a daunger And soothly that thou mayest arme thy selfe substancially against all pestilent opinions that thou mayst be able to auoyde to preuente and beate backe the strokes of the aduersaries who séeke on euery side with the enuenomed dartes of wicked arguments to assayle and set vpon thée and mayst stande so fast and perseuer so vnvanquishable in sound doctrine as is most méete and requisite thou hast néede to put on spirituall weapons the shield of faith the helmet of saluation but especially the sword of the spirit which is the word of God as the Apostle teacheth and commaundeth in the sixte of the Ephe. But thus doth he arme and defend himselfe that dayly and duly heareth readeth meditateth learneth the worde of GOD set forth in the bookes of holy Scripture For the Apostle Paul in the second Epistle to Timothy and third Chapter sayth very well that the Scripture is profitable to reproue and confute those that casting abrode the nettes of false opinions goe about to beguyle to maske and destroy the vnwary and weake What doctrine soeuer is first brought in it is necessarye that the same be tried by the touchstone of the holy Scripture as by a most absolute rule And there are to be found euery where in the sacred bookes as wel exhortations which do plainely shewe with what great héedfulnesse the authours of sects are to be auoyded as also counsels and certaine reasons whyche doe no lesse euidently declare how wisely and circumspectlye the same ought to be resisted Whych things do verye plainely proue that it is a most vaine toy that a number to beguile simple people withall do oft times iangle off and haue continually in their mouthes reading of the Scriptures doe by by become Heretickes But this speach is more worthy to be abhorred and abandoned than to be answered For what other thing else is this than to saye that the Phisicke wisely giuen and ministred of GOD himselfe is poyson and that sicknesse death is procured by that thing which is prouided to the furtherance of health and preseruation of life Shall we thinke him that we haue oftentimes spoken off Iohn Chrisostome to haue bene beside himselfe and voyde of reason who following the iudgement of the Apostle by howe muche more he sawe many Heresies to growe vppe in his time and in manner of the disease called the canker to créepe further and further by so muche more thought it necessarie to haue his hearers admonished that they shoulde diligently apply themselues to the reading of the holye Scriptures There were in déede at that time no small number of Heretikes as namely the Manichees the Anomaeans the Arians Aetians Eunomians Valentinians and Marcionites the Marcellians and Sabellians the Acoluthiās there were to be short Gentiles and such as following the Emperoure Iulianus had reuolted from the Tentes of the Christians for with all these it is euident that hée encountred by sharpning his penne againste them and so much the rather for that they vnmeasurably vexed the Churches of Constantinople and else where ouer all Greece and verye manye menne being otherwise not euill were seduced by them This necessitie therefore draue the most vigilant Bishoppe to stirre vp all mens mindes as well by bookes notoriously written as also by publike preachings and Sermons to the continuall reading of the propheticall and Apostolicke wrytings as wée haue more than once or twice here alreadye And in one place hée pronounceth that is we intende to resiste Heresies and to descerne the true Churche from the conuenticles of Heretikes we haue néede especially to the doing of it of the ayde and furtheraunce of the Scriptures Hys words in the exposition of the foure and twentie Cha. of Math. Homilie 49. are these In these dayes since Heresie inuaded the Churches there can no triall bee hadde of true Christianitie neyther is there any other refuge for Christians desirous to knowe the variety of Fayth than the holy Scripture of god Before indeed it was shewed many wayes whych was the Churche of CHRIST and whiche was Gentilitie but nowe it can no waye bee knowen of anye whyche is the true Churche of CHRIST but onely by the Scriptures And why Bycause that all these thyngs whyche are properlye Christes in trueth those Heresies haue also in Schisme they haue Churches alike and the holy Scriptures themselues they haue Bishops alike and other orders of Clearkes they haue Baptisme alike they haue the Eucharist alike and al other things and finally euen Christ himselfe A man therefore desirous to know which is the true Chuche of Christ howe shall he knowe in so great a confusion of likenesse but only and alone by the Scriptures Againe before tyme the Churche of Christ was knowen by hir very maners and conditions when the conuersation of Christians either of al or of the most was holy and blamelesse which was not so among the vngodly But nowe Christians are become as euill or worse than are
and defende their own slouthfulnesse withall To be shorte there is no state or condition no function or office no laboures no causes incident either to publike or priuate dealings that can minister anye excuse sufficiently lawfull to discharge anye Christian from the reading and pervsing of the Sacred Bookes Nowe sith it is euident that no excuse or allegation whatsoeuer wyll goe for payment it is méete and requisite that euery man doe so distribute the times houres of hys actions as of them he may giue some daylye to the searching of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles And in good sooth it is not likely that the thinges shoulde otherwise be well done that are not accomplished in order and in a tyme appointed Some things are fit to be done in the nighte othersome in the dawning othersome in the morning othersome at noonetide othersome in the euening And looke howe muche more laborious the businesses are or labours busie whych it behoueth to deale withall so muche more duly shalte thou seuer and diuide them and indeuoure to execute euerye thing in certaine houres and peculiar distances of times and seasons We reade in Ammianus Marcellinus that Alexander the greate Iulius Caesar and the Emperour Iulianus who laboured to immitate those former in manye thinges diuided the nightes while they laye in their campes into thrée partes wherof the first parte they gaue vnto rest and to the satisfaction of nature the seconde to the doing of things néedefull the thirde to the studye of good artes and sciences But why doe we not rather turne our consideration vnto Christian princes Therefore to speake of Alfred king of Britain who first of all founded the famous schole at Oxforde we finde it recorded that he in like manner disseuered all the time into thrée portions and gaue eight houres dayly to the minde to read pray and meditate in other eight to the administration of his kingdome and the residue to bodily exercises Not muche vnlike vnto this man was Charles the great who vsed to féed his minde with good studies and meditatiōs but especially with the reading of the holy Scriptures and which not a fewe haue reported of him in the time of dinner and supper he wold alwayes haue some things recyted as well out of the sacred Bible as also out of the workes of Saint Augustine It is plain and euident that many other princes mo besides haue in learning the duties of godlynes out of the holy Scriptures troden the salfe same pathe Why do not euery one of vs therefore after the example of so worthy men especially of Alfred and Charles kings that deserued excéedinglye wel of Christian religion take counsel by by as touching ordinary houres to be appointed to the reading of the holy Bible I doe very willingly and euen purposely rehearse the factes of kings and princes in this cause partly to the intent the kings princes and noble men of our days may perceiue that they also are prouoked by the authoritie princely presidents of their auncestours to the like diligence in learning the doctrine of religion and partly to the ende that inferioure persons who are by no meanes like princes surcharged and in a maner ouerwhelmed with the waues of manifolde and difficult affayres may vnderstand and wil they nil they confesse that they haue no manner of excuse left vnto them wherby they might pretend that they want fit time and oportuniti to reade the holy Scriptures Be it therefore concluded and determined that it is no harde matter for any Christian to finde fit places times and houres to pervse ouer the bookes of the heauenly Philosophy that at leastwise considering what other excellent men haue done in the same matter will not sticke valiantlye to pricke forwarde himselfe to the doing of the like Therefore now as one letting his sute fall and acknowledging himselfe to be vanquished and ouercome some man demaundeth and would gladly learne of vs what time or what houres we déeme conuenient to be chozen to the reading of the sacred bookes I wil in few wordes declare what I thinke to be moste expediente The choyse ought especially to be in thy selfe to determine of the houres according to the manner of the fūction whiche thine office or kinde of life doeth require Doubtlesse GOD himselfe séemeth greatly to commend the time of the morning and euening when a Deut. 6. and 11. he sayth ye shall lay vp my words in your heart and in your soule And ye shall teache them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and whē thou risest vp Thou séest the times to be pointed out which euery man euen without any informer shoulde effectuallye in déede consecrate vnto prayers thankesgiuing and meditation of things spirituall and heauenly Albeit where the Lorde addeth that when a man sitteth at home in his house and when he trauelleth by the way he oughte to talke of his word he doth not obscurely signify that not only in the morning and euening but also at all other times and houres whatsoeuer men may profitably be excused in learning the lawe of God and therefore that it muste be leafte frée to euerye manne to appoint certaine houres accordyng to the trade of hys lyfe and varietie of businesses whyche happen therein That whyche is of it selfe holesome and fruitefull at what time soeuer it be done is well done Let thy chiefe studye and care be this that what houres thou haste once appointed thou mayste without interruption and manger all lettes and impedimentes perpetually obserue For why all things that shall once in this behalfe reuerently be decréede are as by an inuiolable lawe and yet withoute superstition to be reteyned and kepte And if at any time peraduenture some odde businesse and vnlooked for doe fall out to the contrary then it behoueth theé very carefully to prouide that at some other tyme the want be supplied But againe thou askest howe muche shall I reade euerye daye in what space shall I once peruse ouer all the whole Bible I aunswere that as I vnderstand it was an ordinary matter with oure auncestours once in a yeares space to haue the Bible from the beginning to the ende publikely recited in holy assemblies to the common instruction of all that were present For to the intēt that thing might the more commodiously be done they admitted in those daies no other Psalmes or Books of Scripture in the sayde assemblies but suche as were Canonicall as wée haue shewed in the former Booke And that the same moste commendable vsage was kepte and continued manye ages following it is not to bée doubted For euen Gratian himselfe distinct 15. declaring what Bookes of holy Scripture were wonte to be read in hys tyme that is to say about the yeare after Christes byrth .1160 signifyeth that there was made onelye a verye small chaunge From Septuagesima sayth he